NLC inaugurates 3 regional committees

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has inaugurated three regional committees with a call on members to make fair decisions on labour and industrial disputes to ensure harmony in their respective regions.

The committees, which comprise three members each for the Greater Accra, Western and Ashanti regions, were inaugurated in Accra yesterday.

Their mandate includes facilitating settlement of industrial disputes, promotion of effective cooperation between labour and management, and allowing disputing parties to select mediators and arbitrators from the database of the commission.

The committees would also investigate labour-related complaints, particularly unfair labour practices, while taking necessary steps to prevent labour disputes.

Advice

The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Kwabena Asuman Adu (retd), who swore the members in, urged them to take their work seriously as they would be making decisions that might go as far as the Supreme Court.

He, therefore, urged them to uphold the principles of fairness and objectivity at all times in the discharge of their duties.

“As much as possible, you must ensure that you avoid a conflict of interest. If you have an interest in a case pending before you, kindly recuse yourself,” the chairman advised.

He said the work of the regional committees had reduced the workload of the commission and the travel cost of aggrieved persons who would have journeyed to the head office for the resolution of their labour disputes.

“In your adjudication of cases, you are advised to be guided by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Labour Act 2003, Act 651, and legislative instruments 1822 and 1833, which deal with labour issues in the country,” Justice Adu added.

The acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Bernice A. Welbeck, also explained that the inauguration of the committees was part of efforts to decentralise the work of the commission in pursuit of section 144 of the Labour Act 2003.

She said the commission was monitoring, particularly the media space and would intervene immediately when labour issues arise, adding that the commission's proactive measures may account for the quietness in the media space.

Dr Welbeck advised aggrieved employees to write formally to their employer and the commission, stating reasons why they were unhappy, before taking any action.

Appreciation

Members of the committees expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in them to serve on the committees, and pledged to do their best to ensure that industrial issues were resolved amicably.

They promised to abide by the rules, including the Labour Act 2003, in the performance of their duties to ensure fairness.